Bishop of Derry confronted dawn intruder, court told

A POLICE officer told a court yesterday how the Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, confronted an intruder who broke into his home on Buncrana Road, Derry, in the early hours last Friday.

The detective sergeant gave evidence when Declan Devine (32), from Bloomfield Park in the Galliagh area of Derry, appeared at a special sitting of the city’s Magistrate’s Court, charged with entering the bishop’s house as a trespasser and stealing numerous personal items.

The defendant, who denies the charge, has over 70 previous convictions, some of them for burglaries and public order offences.

The police witness told District Judge John Meehan that Bishop Hegarty made a 999 call at 5.22am last Friday to report an intruder in his home.

In a statement, the bishop said he woke up at dawn and saw a man standing at his bedroom door holding what he believed was a weapon in his hand.

The intruder asked the bishop: “How do I get out?” the officer said. “Bishop Hegarty followed him into a room off his bedroom and told him to leave by the back door, which the intruder did.”

The detective sergeant said a set of rosary beads, a bag with the bishop’s initials on it, the bishop’s ring, several antique coins, a personalised silver pen, a silver vase and the bishop’s wallet and watch were among the items stolen.

Police later received a call from a local who reported a small fire smouldering between his St John’s Park home and the bishop’s house. The police recovered the bishop’s credit cards from the fire.

The officer said that based on intelligence, two addresses – one the defendant’s home – were searched. Police found several of the stolen items at the defendant’s address. The defendant was not at home during the search, and later contacted police about the search.

The witness said he opposed the defendant being granted bail because of his extensive criminal record and because “he has known criminal associates from the Republic of Ireland”.

He said the defendant had convictions for failing to return to jail while on leave and for breaking other court orders.

“As well as that, because of the high public profile nature of the injured party, we believe the defendant was fully aware of the injured party,” he added.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said no identification parade had been carried out, and that the bishop’s description of the intruder did not match the defendant.

“The bishop said the intruder had a lopsided look to his face as if he had had a stroke. That does not match Mr Devine’s facial looks,” he said.

Mr Quigley said the defendant’s last conviction for burglary was in 1996, adding there were no records before the court to prove the defendant was a known associate of criminals in the Republic.

District Judge Meehan released the defendant on his own bail of £400 to appear again on September 23rd. The defendant must wear an electronic tag and observe an 8pm to 8am curfew.

The defendant was banned from entering the Buncrana Road between the Pennyburn and Branch Road roundabouts, and ordered not to have contact with Bishop Hegarty.

SIC: IT